Sailors need stars to guide them, we need rules to anchor us.

Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet affirmed at the 16th East Sea Conference that compliance with widely recognized rules and norms is the foundation of global peace and stability.

Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet speaks at the 16th International Scientific Conference on the East Sea.

Facing many big questions

Within the framework of the 16th International Scientific Conference on the East Sea “Orienting thinking, Promoting standards” held in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province (October 23-24), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet gave an important opening speech to guide the discussion for the Conference.

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet said that the world is now at a profound turning point. The shift to a multipolar world is no longer an abstract academic debate. It is an ongoing reality, reshaping the global order in ways that are still uncertain and, if not properly managed, could be disastrous.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet pointed out that trust in established institutions and norms is eroding. When trust in multilateral frameworks is weakened, unilateral measures will prevail, regardless of the interests of others and the global community. This narrows the space for dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation, pushing defense and deterrence to the top of the strategic priorities of many countries.

According to Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet, the world is becoming increasingly polarized, with the lines between "right" and "wrong", "truth" and "lies" blurred and confused. Very contradictory "information" and "stories" are being propagated by all sides, sometimes amplified through new breakthrough technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Competition among great powers today is not simply about resources, territory or maritime space, not just about dominance in trade, technology and military capabilities, but importantly also about domination of the ideas and visions that will shape the international system of the future.

This is also a “cognitive war” – a struggle to “tell” the stories that underlie the perceptions of disputes and conflicts in many parts of the world.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that in that context, the Diplomatic Academy's choice of the theme for this year's East Sea Conference, " Orienting thinking, Promoting standards" , could not be more timely.

Important questions arise: Are these stories well-founded? Are they based on widely accepted values ​​and norms? How can we navigate competing stories to defend our positions and maintain peace and clarity of mind?

Likewise, how can middle powers and ASEAN member states maintain their vision and tell their national stories, while maintaining strategic autonomy and regional resilience?

Delegates attending the 16th International Scientific Conference on the East Sea with the theme "Orienting thinking, Promoting standards".

The foundation of global peace and stability

"Just as a sailor needs a guiding star to find direction, we need established rules and principles to anchor our policies and actions," said Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet.

Adherence to widely recognized rules and norms is the foundation of global peace and stability, as it provides a common framework for states to resolve disputes peacefully and cooperatively.

Regarding this issue, the Deputy Minister said that he did not see any standards and principles more suitable for the East Sea than those recorded in the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“Adherence to widely accepted rules and norms is the foundation of global peace and stability, as it provides a common framework for states to resolve disputes peacefully and cooperatively.”

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of UNCLOS. This important milestone provides an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the Convention as the comprehensive legal framework within which all activities at sea and on the oceans must be conducted and the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the maritime space, and that the integrity of the Convention must be maintained.

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet emphasized that the development of agreements implementing UNCLOS in recent years has emphasized the long-term commitment of countries to the Convention. The most recent and notable example is the 2022 agreement on the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone between Vietnam and Indonesia.

In addition, the Deputy Minister cited another part of Vietnam's unwavering commitment to UNCLOS as Vietnam's first-ever nomination of a candidate for the position of Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026-2035 term: Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Director of the East Sea Institute of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

"We believe that if elected, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh will devote herself to ITLOS and effectively contribute to the work of ITLOS, which also demonstrates in practice our strong and continuous commitment to UNCLOS and more broadly, upholding the United Nations Charter and international law," Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet shared.

Message of vision, cherished standards

The recent Future of the United Nations Summit was a powerful demonstration of our shared determination to address the challenges facing humanity through multilateral cooperation.

To clarify that, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet quoted the speech at the Summit of General Secretary and President To Lam: "We need to strengthen solidarity, cooperation and mutual respect", that we must "comply with international law and the United Nations Charter and resolve disagreements and disputes by peaceful means", and that "the United Nations, regional organizations, including ASEAN, need to take the lead with the mission of promoting cooperation and coordinating actions in responding to global challenges...".

According to the Deputy Minister, those were the most heartfelt words about Vietnam's vision, story and precious standards for a common future, when "we set sail into a new era".

In that new era, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet said that the East Sea will be a bridge between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, a dynamic center for global growth and prosperity.

The South China Sea will serve as a vital link in the global supply chain, a cultural crossroads where civilizations intersect, and a bridge between the world's power centers.

Therefore, according to the Deputy Minister, ASEAN needs to be trusted and used by all parties, especially in its role as a mediator, conciliator, and a framework for connections and interactions, because ASEAN's principles of openness, tolerance, transparency, and respect for international law benefit all parties while not threatening any party.

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Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-truong-ngoai-giao-do-hung-viet-noi-ve-chuan-muc-tai-bien-dong-thuy-thu-can-ngo-sao-dan-duong-chung-ta-can-luat-le-neo-giu-291138.html